As a rule, I try to stay as far away from reality as my pet unicorn deems necessary, but that Mayawati is a serious pisser! Thats why I have had to descend from good old cloud # 42 to rant against her latest idiosyncracy.

There's this new mumbo jumbo about a new grading system for the tenth. In addition there's the "five pass, one fail = all pass" implementation. Apparently, this will all be in force by 2010. Now my question...how in the name of Hugh Laurie is this going to help anybody?

The grading system, I cant say its awful. its not awesome but...oh well. So kids will get As instead of 90s. Frankly, that changes nothing at the matriculate level. It's just one exam less, which is great for kids and parents and stress levels. But how does this help anyone education wise? Where is the value added? I really dont really see it. 

Its this lousy five pass, one fail = pass rule that I simply cant come to terms with. What, may I ask is the point of handing out marks to people who cant compete in the first place? If they cant compete now what makes you think they'll be able to d it later? Sure you'll get them through this exam and the next one and the next one, but that doesnt change the fact that the quota gravy train ends somewhere. And then what? Who suffers?Everyone, thats who.

Its the SC/ST IIT IIM story all over again. You get people into universities and institutes of repute, but you cant keep them there. Lets face it, its tough work and everyone has to pull through. Sooner or later, they drop out. And the drop out rates are high. Why is this so dificult to grasp? If your basics are not clear, you wont be able to cope. There. It's that simple!

I'm not really against the quota (unless its 50% of the entire vacancy of course). I dont like it very much but I have to say, its not my call to take. If someone feels that they are being discriminated against and deserve a better shot at higher education...please, by all means. But if this means that we're offering relaxation to people who are going to drop out in any case, whats the point? And its not their fault either...they simply cant cope. They're not equipped to take that oppurtunity and turn it into something productive. And all this at the cost of some deserving bloke in the General category, who could have made good use of that seat.

So either way, that leaves two rosy alternatives - either IIT/IIM has to lower its standards-a fine choice to take in today's increasingly competititve global environment- OR and we're just going out on a limb here- those who cant cope will have to learn to. Without the quota/ exemptions/ relaxations.

The way I see it, quotas rule. In fact I am all for them. Make it a 50% quota if you like. At a primary level. You want to benefit scheduled casttes and tribes? Make sure private schools reserve seats for them at the first/ second class level. Subsidise the fees. Provide training for teachers to handle every child. Make enough seats and bring in enough staff so that individual attention can be paid. Give teachers incentives and most importantly, introduce the concept of "non performance= failing/ firing" for the students and the teachers. Competence should be rewarded, a genuine problem should be dealt with, but plain laziness needs to be punsihed- at each and every level. There are no two ways about it. Provide infrastructure to make it more comfortable for the child to learn. Introduce education technology like that Idea ad.

And why just SC/STs? Anyone and everyone should have an education oppurtunity. Make sure they get a start in education at the correct level. Once they are used to that level of competition, they will manage themselves. And then quotas wont be all that necessary at higher levels.  

But that wont happen, will it? If it did...that would mean actual progress! Heaven forbid that ever happens! Besides all this quota yap makes for a healthy votebank. And ultimately, thats all that really matters isnt it? Sniff. How I love happy endings.

 Those that know me dont really tag me as a...social sort of girl. Frankly, I get more enjoyment out of watching a plastic slinky find its way down the stairs than talking to 73% (estimated figure) of the human populace. Thats why when someone well meaning albeit oblivious brings about the famed 'shaadi-byah' topic, I feel like I have been slapped in the face by the mehendi covered hand of fate.

Now, dont get me wrong. I have nothing against the institution of marriage. Hey, it works right? I know tons of successful people, and some of them are married. Coincidence? Probably, but...there you go. But its The Great Indian Wedding that inspires fear. And not just any old fear. This is the sort of fear with which Nikhil's economic theories hold up as viable candidates.

I come from a family where women dominate by sheer force of numbers. Lets look at the facts: My grandmother has a sister, my mother has a sister, I have a sister and 2 cousins- both girls- we're looking at a 1:2 guy girl ratio and thats just my mum's side. All in all, I have about 6 sisters- cousins included- and only one brother who- lets face it- isnt going to get married any time soon. The problem? Said sisters are normal, romantic girls with a very rosy view of matrimony. I know that atleast 5 of them are in love/ infatuated/willing to get married soon. So where does that leave me, aforementioned me being one of the elder ones? Nowhere comfortable I assure you! I'm caught between a rock and a baaraat here, people!

Speaking of baaraats, I have always had a very unhappy association with them. They're way too loud, too red and too gold- courtesy our jolly Punjabi Aunties! This may be one reason I never liked the Gryffindor house much. I always imagine them playing quidditch with a band playing "Doli saja ke rakhna." 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my time is coming. It wont be long now. A distant cousin (not included in the above) recently consented to tying the not and will be 'gittin' hitched' this November. Thats where the menangerie starts. Theres going to be a virtual of barrage of match making autnies chirping away. These are some of the gems I am sure to have thrown my way...

"Ab iske liye bhi dekhna shuru kar lo aap!"
"Ladka jaisa bhi ho, family acchi honi chahiye!"
"Ab toh inki baari hai."
"Vaise, aapki beti ki kya umar hogi?"
"Career shareer toh sab theekh hai par Shaadi ke baare mein kya socha hai?

And so on and so forth....

You'd think it would stop here. But it doesnt. Oh, it so doesnt! There will be bitchiness and cattiness alike. How (not) pretty the girl is, how well the boy is (not) doing. To be fair, this part is actually fun. But I draw the line at the famed "woh thodi/thoda kaali/kaala hai." People, discrimination is not cool.

Plus we have to dress up and play nice with people we dont know, dance to stupid wedding songs that should have died out in the 40s (kaala sha kaala, honestly?) and the grand finale, mehendi. I HATE mehendi! And its not just the smell. Its the whole, "dekh dekh, kitn acchi chadi hai meri mehendi! *Squeals of girlish delight* ". *Shudder*. All this, while aunties with 'eligible bachelor' sons inspect us for...'future reference'. As for the blokes, well lets just say we're not the only ones suffering.

And this is what I'm up against. Me. The socially awkward weirdo of the lot. This will be fun. You know what the worst, the absolute WORST part is though? Mum says I cant take my slinky to the wedding!
   
                                                 

                                                    

Toll Booth Collector...hands down.

Have you ever encountered a situation-in this case, a forwarded email- where you want to kick the creator of said situation, not because its lousy, but because its well meaning and yet so wrong? Probably not. But anyway...here's one: I got this forward and I am just wondering what to do with it. 

It was a sports stadium. 
 
 Eight Children were standing on the track to participate in the running event. 
 
 * Ready! * Steady! * Bang!!! 
 
 With the sound of Toy pistol, all eight girls started running. 
 
Hardly have they covered ten to fifteen steps, one of the smaller girls slipped and fell down, due to bruises and pain she started crying. When other seven girls heard this sound, stopped running, stood for a while and turned back, they all ran back to the place where the girl fell down. 
 
 One among them bent, picked and kissed the girl gently and enquired, ' 
 Now pain must have reduced' . All seven girls lifted the fallen girl, pacified her, two of them held the girl firmly and they all seven joined hands together and walked together and reached the winning post. 
 
 Officials were shocked. Clapping of thousands of spectators filled the stadium. 
 
 Many eyes were filled with tears and perhaps it had reached the GOD even! 
 
 YES. This happened in Hyderabad [ INDIA ], recently! 
 
 The sport was conducted by National Institute of Mental Health . 
 
 All these special girls had come to participate in this event and they are spastic children. 
 
 Yes, they were Mentally Challenged. 
 
 What did they teach this world? 
 
 Teamwork? 
 Humanity? 
 Equality among all????? 
 
 Successful people help others who are slow in learning so that they are not felt far behind. This is really a great message... spread it! 
 
 We can't do this ever because we have brains !!!!!!!!!
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For anyone who missed my point, its the last line that really takes the cake. 'Because we have brains'? What is that supposed to mean? So by insinuating that someone with a mental condition is 'brainless' this email helps to spread the message of love and equality and god knows what else. Thats just great.
You know, I may be reading too much between the lines here, but when i get a message like this, it makes me wonder if the creator/ sender/ forwarder cares at all, or even understands the depth of the message. By putting a line like that at the end, the implication is- well, you may care but you dont know shit. Because to you, dear email maker/sender,  emotions of sensitivity, bonding, affection and kinship were displayed by a 'brainless' person, and thats a big deal. Well, it is. But not for the reason provided above. Sigh.

And here I thought it's our job to make a spastic person feel as much a part of our society as any other normal person. You know, with 'brains'. Silly, silly me. Worse still, this is the fifteenth time I have received this forward. Sorry for being a spoilsport and all that, but I wont be forwarding this 'really great message'. Cheers.

I have to be honest here. Anime freaks me out a bit. :-/ I mean, come on! Their eyes cover half their faces...and anyone with legs that long should be defying the laws of physics!

 

Galapagos Islands.

Sharks...Gigantic Great Whites with over 300 teeth. Oddly enough though, this never stopped me from going into the pool...I did however scream bloody murder whenever anybody mentioned "Bath time!"

Pride, Wrath and Sloth. These aren't 'sins'! They're my daily routine!